Under the auspices of the WCO/JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency) Joint Project, a national workshop to support the efforts of Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) to develop the Standard Operation Procedure（SOP） of their Risk Management Section was held in Nairobi, Kenya on 7-11 October 2019.  The workshop was organized jointly by the WCO and JICA under the Trade Facilitation and Border Control Project in East Africa to support KRA in enhancing its Risk Management (RM) functions to meet issues and challenges.

This is a follow-up activity on the recommendation made during the WCO/JICA joint Risk Management fact-finding mission to Kenya in April 2018.  During that mission, the team of experts held intensive discussions with both KRA management and operational staff with a view to further enhancing its RM functions to ensure proper revenue collection, further trade facilitation and enhanced Customs controls.  One of the priorities identified by KRA was to develop the SOP of their Risk Management Section in line with their planned launch of the new Customs system “integrated Customs Management System (iCMS)”.  KRA subsequently initiated its work and requested the WCO and JICA to send experts to guide their task force to improve the draft SOP taking into account the global standards and international good practices.

Eighteen (18)　task force members nominated from the different divisions/units of the KRA met with the experts from the WCO and JICA to review the  draft SOP.  During the workshop, the task force members intensively discussed and exchanged their ideas and experience to further improve their draft SOP with the guidance and advice given by the participating WCO experts.  On the last day of the workshop, the SOP was presented to the KRA Deputy Commissioner responsible for RM.who greatly appreciated the excellent work done by the task force as well as quality support extended by the WCO and JICA to develop this important document.

The WCO and JICA commended the excellent work done by the task force members as well as their ownership and leadership demonstrated throughout the workshop.  It is expected that the SOP will contribute to a smooth and effective operation of the Risk Management section to meet issues and challenges impacting the Kenya Customs.

For more information, please contact Capacity.Building@wcoomd.org.